The world is not as simple as it seems.
What appears on the surface is a thin layer — a delicate veil that conceals something far older, darker, and deeper than human understanding could ever reach.
Most people live their lives without ever realizing it.
They believe everything in this world follows laws that can be explained.
Logic.
Physics.
Science.
They cling to reality, which can be measured and calculated as if it is the only truth.
They reject any other possibility, denying what cannot be proven by formulas or theories.
But not all rules are written in books.
Not all existence can be categorized into numbers and statistics.
There is another world—something lurking between the cracks of reality, moving parallel to the visible world.
A world that can only be witnessed by a handful of people who—whether blessed or cursed—are born with eyes that can see what was meant to remain hidden.
And I am one of those who can see it.
"Thinking about something again?"
The voice was barely more than a whisper, but I could recognize its tone without question.
Diego.
The only person who ever believed in what I saw.
I didn't immediately turn my head.
My gaze remained fixed on the fogged-up window of the classroom, even though the weather outside was clear.
Droplets of water — ones that shouldn't be there — trickled slowly across the glass surface, forming random patterns that resembled the faint trace of unseen fingers.
"No."
My answer was short, nearly devoid of emotion.
Diego sighed, his voice carrying the kind of understanding that only someone who had known me for too long could possess.
"You always say no, but your face tells a different story," he murmured.
I didn't argue.
There was no point.
He knew I was lying.
At the far end of the classroom, the figure still stood.
A teenager in a worn-out gray jacket, almost identical to our school uniform, his head bowed — his face hidden beneath shadows that shouldn't exist in a room this bright.
He had been there since morning — no, he had been there since the day I first set foot in this school.
Silent, unmoving — like a forgotten statue.
A ghost.
Or... is that word still accurate?
They aren't like the ones portrayed in cheap horror movies—no screams, no blood, no grotesque figures jumping out from the shadows to frighten me.
I'm not so sure, maybe not yet.
But they... exist.
For something I am not certain of.
"I'm used to it."
It was the only reply that finally escaped my lips — flat, emotionless — as if this topic was nothing more than casual small talk, unworthy of deeper thought.
Diego chuckled softly beside me, his laughter nearly drowned out by the noise of the classroom waiting for the lesson to begin.
"Shit... You sound like an anime character who watches too many noir films."
I glanced at him briefly — just enough to catch the expression on his face.
His lips curved into a playful grin, as usual — but his eyes... his eyes didn't laugh.
Diego was one of the few who didn't run when he learned about me.
He couldn't see what I saw, but somehow... he knew.
And for that, I respected him.
"You ever heard of this theory?"
His voice dropped, barely above a whisper.
There was a faint trace of fear in his tone—like the words he was about to speak were something that shouldn't be uttered in crowded places.
"The more you ignore them... the more they become drawn to you."
I didn't answer right away.
Not because I wasn't interested—because I already knew.
That theory wasn't just some cheap urban legend told to scare children.
I'd proven it myself.
When I was little, I could only see them from afar.Blurry figures drifting through abandoned houses or standing motionless in the corners of school hallways as dusk crept in.
They only watched—never approached, never touched.
But the older I got... the closer they came.
It started with faint whispers in the dead of night.Soft, fragmented voices slipping into my ears just as I was about to fall asleep.
Then the shadows came—vague silhouettes reflected in mirrors, standing silently behind me whenever I was alone.
They called my name, over and over... without rest.
And the more I pretended not to care... the closer they came.
"I know."
The words finally escaped my mouth—flat, drained of energy.
Diego watched me for a few seconds, as if weighing something in his mind, before leaning back in his chair.
He didn't ask any further.
That was one of the reasons I felt comfortable around him.
He knew when to ask... and when to keep quiet.
To be honest, I'd forgotten the last time I truly felt fear.
Not because I was brave... I was just... tired.
Fear is only terrifying if you still believe you can run away.
But if you know they'll always be there—whether you're afraid or not—then sooner or later, fear turns into boredom.
The scariest thing in my life isn't the ghosts.
Not the whispers at night, not the shadows lurking at the edge of my vision, not the unseen footsteps trailing behind me wherever I go.
The scariest thing is...
I'm starting not to care.
The boy stood still.
His eyes were vacant, a pale grey like stagnant water.
His lips moved soundlessly, repeating the same sentence I'd memorized by heart.
"Help me..."
I turned back to the window, letting his plea drown in silence.
I never helped them.
Not because I couldn't... but because I knew—helping one would only make a thousand others come knocking.
They all carried stories.
They all carried secrets.
Andthey all... wanted to be heard.
But I didn't care.
The world doesn't need heroes.
The world only needs people who know how to close their eyes and walk through the darkness without ever looking back.
Diego's voice broke the silence—low, but serious.
"If you keep pretending not to care... you know what'll happen, right?"
I turned to him, meeting his gaze.
"What?"
He stared straight into my eyes, no trace of a smile.
"They'll make you care."
"Not my business. I'm sleepy." I muttered, resting my head on the desk.
Diego shook his head and reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a canned coffee he had bought that morning from the vending machine.
Without saying a word, he pushed it toward me.
I sat up and took it, opening the can and taking a small sip.
Bitter.
He sighed and chuckled softly, his voice lighter this time
"Of course you're always sleepy... you always look like a dead man walking."
I glanced at him briefly, uninterested.
"Or maybe... you're the one who's already dead?"
To be honest...
I had asked myself the same question before.
Diego lowered his voice, barely a whisper.
"Kai... why don't you ever try to help them?"
I closed the coffee can in my hand, letting the faint metallic sound echo through the air.
There are things far more terrifying than ghosts.
And one of them... is opening a door that should remain closed.
I didn't answer right away.
Because I was afraid... the answer lingering in my mind might be true.
Inside my head, faint whispers murmured without rest—as if they were all laughing at me, waiting for my reaction.
"What's the point?"
The words finally slipped out—flat, almost emotionless.
"They're already dead."
Diego fell silent.
No laughter.
No sarcastic jokes he usually threw around.
Only the suffocating silence between us.
I could feel his gaze piercing through me—through the cold mask I always wore.
Then, as always... he let out a small chuckle.
"God... you're the coldest person I've ever met."
Diego suddenly leaned back in his chair, his voice barely audible.
"But what if... they still have regrets?"
I knew he said that on purpose.
To make me care.
To drag me into his madness.
Yet I still didn't respond.
Silence.
Only the ticking of the classroom clock and faint footsteps from the hallway accompanied us.
Diego let out a long sigh, as if he had already anticipated my reaction.
"I knew you'd never do this alone."
I slowly turned, meeting his gaze.
That look... was different.
More serious.
"That's why... I have an idea."
My brow furrowed.
"Don't tell me... you're about to suggest another stupid idea."
He smirked, as if he'd been caught red-handed.
"Trust me... this isn't stupid."
He leaned in closer, whispering right in my ear.
His voice was barely audible — as if he feared something might be listening.
"Let's create a supernatural investigation team."
I closed my eyes, suppressing the scoff that almost escaped my lips.
Ridiculous.
Childish.
But...
Something stirred inside me.
A feeling I had long forgotten.
"Why?"
I opened my eyes, fixing him with a sharp gaze.
"Why would you suddenly want to do this?"
Diego fell silent for a moment before finally lowering his eyes.
"I'm tired, Kai."
His voice was heavy — stripped of its usual playfulness.
"You always say you're used to seeing them... but me? I've never seen anything. Yet I believe. I believe this world... isn't as simple as we think."
I swallowed hard.
For the first time, I saw Diego... afraid.
He bit his lip, as if holding back something he'd buried deep inside.
"I'm tired of pretending not to know... pretending to live in a normal world. I want to know what's really behind all of this. And I know... the only way to find the answer is through you."
His words pressed against my chest like a weight.
I never thought anyone else could suffer the same way I did — even without seeing what I saw.
He was trapped in ignorance.
And to me... that was far worse than being trapped in fear.
Maybe...
This is the time.
"A supernatural investigation team, huh?"
I finally spoke, half-mocking.
"Who's going to join such a crazy team?"
Diego grinned wider, a faint spark returning to his eyes.
"I already have one candidate."
He leaned back against the wall, his tone light — as if this were just an ordinary conversation.
But I knew — he was serious.
I glanced at him, trying to read his expression, but as always, Diego was good at hiding what was really on his mind.
"Who?"
I hoped he was joking.
Diego looked straight into my eyes without the slightest hesitation.
"You."
A short chuckle slipped from my lips, but the sound felt heavier than it should have.
Laughter that was meant to be light... turned into something pressing against my chest.
Damn it.
I knew this was a stupid idea.
I knew this was just a childish game played by kids who watched too many horror movies late at night.
But deep down... something was stirring.
Something I'd been trying to ignore all this time.
Because I knew, if I set foot on this path... there would be no turning back.
Diego must have seen the doubt on my face because he took a step closer, his voice softer.
"We'll start with small cases first. No exorcisms, no summoning rituals, no crazy nonsense. Just... helping lost spirits. Helping them find answers."
I stared at the floor, trying to push away the creeping unease along my spine.
My fingers clenched unconsciously.
I could feel it even without looking.
The teenager was still there.
All this time, I had only pretended not to care, hoping one day those figures would stop appearing.
But they never left.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.
"This is insane, Diego."
"I know."
"We're not ghost hunters."
"I know."
I lifted my head, staring at him sharply.
"Then why me?"
Diego didn't answer right away.
He just looked at me — long and hard.
That gaze... was more serious than I'd ever seen from him.
"Because you can see them."
My tongue felt heavy.
For a second, I wanted to deny it.
To call it nonsense, to laugh it off like I always did.
But... Diego wasn't an idiot.
He'd seen too many strange things around me.
He knew.
Shit.
I bit my lip, weighing my answer.
The rational part of me was screaming to refuse.
But there was another voice... a small whisper in the back of my head... telling me this was the path I was always meant to take.
Maybe... this was my fate.
The old man was still standing in the corner of the room, waiting.
His eyes were empty.
His face expressionless.
I'd seen him for years, yet I never knew who he was... or what he wanted.
Maybe it was time to find out.
"Fine," I whispered.
"One case... if we fail, I'm out."
Diego's grin widened, as if he'd already known my answer from the start.
"Deal."
A cold breeze slipped through the slightly open window.
Outside, the sun blazed high — the air should have been hot.
Yet what I felt was freezing.
I had no idea what I had just agreed to.
But deep down...
I knew the first step into a new kind of hell had just begun.